Man died in fall from Ipswich building while ‘trying to get away’ from police, inquest hears
A man who died after falling from a 13th floor balcony during a police raid looked like he was “trying to get away”, a coroner has heard.
Police have told an inquest into Mario Giovanni Merlo’s death that the 42-year-old appeared to be attempting to escape the apartment balcony “like it was a foot off the ground” before falling without a sound.
Five officers from a Queensland police taskforce targeting organised crime groups entered the apartment in Ipswich, west of Brisbane in August 2021, the inquest was told.
Sign up to The Nightly's newsletters.
Get the first look at the digital newspaper, curated daily stories and breaking headlines delivered to your inbox.
By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Merlo had been identified by police as a potential associate of outlaw motorcycle gang the Nomads’ Gold Coast chapter in 2016, the coroner heard.
Police said they were also investigating whether Merlo was supplying drugs and had a firearm.
Senior Constable Aaron James Anquetil told the Queensland Coroners Court in Brisbane on Tuesday that Merlo was standing just metres away when he was the first officer to enter the apartment.
However, he said by the time he got to Merlo the 42-year-old was climbing the balcony.
“I don’t believe I got a grasp of Mr Merlo at all. I think I may have touched him — a very fleeting touch (before he fell),” Anquetil said.
A post-mortem found Merlo had non-toxic, toxic and potentially lethal methamphetamine in his system.
“Being heavily influenced by methylamphetamine would explain his actions on the day,” Anquetil told the court.
“Perhaps the strangest part of the whole thing was that when he did fall he didn’t actually say anything.
“I think if someone had slipped or fell or jumped there would be a scream or to say something to us as we entered — there was just nothing the whole time.”
Fellow plain clothed Senior Constable Daniel Viliamu told the coroner it looked like Merlo was trying to get to an adjacent balcony before falling without a sound.
“It was like he didn’t realise how high he was and made an attempt to escape like it was a foot off the ground,” he said.
“I thought he was trying to get away.”
A search of the apartment located a Winchester 12-gauge shortened pump-action shotgun and six vials of testosterone, the inquest was told.
The inquest before coroner Terry Ryan continues on Wednesday.
